Apple has just taken strong action with the "nutrition tracking and calorie counting" application Cal AI, showing that the company still maintains strict control over payment regulations on the App Store.
This application is currently owned by MyFitnessPal and has been removed from the store for a short time due to violating many principles, before being allowed to operate again after fixing the error.
According to information from TechCrunch, Cal AI was found to have tried to circumvent the law of the purchasing system in Apple's IAP application. Instead of using the default payment mechanism, the application deploys its own payment process through third parties such as Stripe, thereby ignoring the mandatory IAP option.
This move violates the 3.1.1 regulation in the App Store Guide, which requires all applications providing digital goods to integrate Apple's payment options, even when linked to external systems. This regulation is still maintained even though Apple had previously relaxed some restrictions after the lawsuit with Epic Games.
Not only stopping at the payment issue, Apple also accused Cal AI of using a design that misleading users. Specifically, the application displays weekly prices that are more prominent than the total actual cost, while blurring information about automatic extensions after free trial periods. These actions are considered to violate regulations 3.1.2c on cost transparency.
In addition, Cal AI is also criticized for applying manipulative tricks in the user experience. The application constantly reminds users to re-register after they have refused, putting pressure and creating a feeling of being led. This is a violation of clause 5.6 in Apple's developer rules.
The incident quickly attracted attention on social networks, partly because of the special origin of Cal AI. This application was initially developed by two high school students and achieved revenue of about 50 million USD per year before being acquired by MyFitnessPal in March.
After being removed, the developer adjusted the payment system and interface design to comply with regulations, helping the application to be brought back to the App Store. However, the incident is seen as a clear warning from Apple that the company still strictly controls its ecosystem.
In the context of increasingly fierce competition and changing legal regulations, many developers are testing the limits of the App Store. But Apple's response shows that even when facing the risk of losing revenue from popular applications, the company still prioritizes maintaining platform control.
